Indian Army is set to host the inaugural edition of the multilateral military exercise ‘Pragati’ at the Foreign Training Node in Umroi, Meghalaya bringing together military delegations from 11 friendly countries. The initiative reflects a shared commitment to strengthening defence cooperation, enhancing interoperability, and fostering mutual trust to ensure regional stability.
About Exercise ‘Pragati’
‘Pragati’: is an acronym for Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)– symbolises a collaborative effort aimed at promoting collective security and cooperative growth among regional forces.
- Host: Indian Army
- Location: Foreign Training Node, Umroi, Meghalaya
- Participating Countries: Laos, Myanmar, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Nepal, Maldives, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Bhutan
Objectives
The exercise is designed to:
- Strengthen defence cooperation among participating nations.
- Enhance interoperability between diverse military forces.
- Build mutual trust and reinforce a shared commitment to regional peace and stability.
Key Features
- The exercise marks the first-ever edition, indicating the beginning of a new multilateral defence platform under India’s regional engagement strategy.
- Conducted at a specialised training facility, it enables joint tactical manoeuvres and coordinated planning among participating armies.
- It emphasizes collective security, ensuring coordinated responses to shared threats across the Indian Ocean Region.
- The acronym ‘Pragati’ reflects a broader vision of growth and transformation of regional armies through cooperation.
Significance
- The exercise highlights the growing importance of regional military collaboration in the strategically crucial Indian Ocean Region.
- By convening 11 countries under one platform, the Indian Army reinforces its role as a key facilitator of security cooperation, trust-building, and stability in the region, aligning with India’s broader neighbourhood-first defence diplomacy.